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Collapse Issue 470 - 27 May 2019Issue 470 - 27 May 2019
Collapse  NEWS NEWS
Ward councillors vote for Farnell Rd approval
Nursing home receives visit from alpaca
Application for five-storey 83-room hotel in Ettalong
Two-storey 'boutique' boarding house proposed
Sand artistry at Kiddies' Corner
Better shopping centre access to George St
Hotel proposal draws comment before exhibition period
Democracy has failed, says residents' group founder
Council staff at odds over street tree planting
Chamber receives $30,000 to promote local business
Council staff recommend rate rise
Matting installed to provide wheelchair beach access
Volunteers wanted to water street trees
Wicks returned for third term
An honour to be returned, says Wicks
Tesch urges support for on-demand bus service
Donation to Men's Shed
CWA branch president speaks on radio
CWA celebrates Mothers' Day with scones
CWA branch shows second fastest growth in NSW
Scouts donate to community garden
Hospital supports employee cycling for cancer cure
Lions club holds tea cosy expo
Parenting program at community centre
Strom Talk for World Environment Day
Collapse  FORUM FORUM
It takes a village ...
Sandplain lends itself to different drainage solution
Universities drive up house and rent prices
Stop outrageous boarding house development
Nasty mood at pre-poll booth
Metres of plastic propaganda is unacceptable
Demerit points are gained, not lost
Declare property portfolios and conflicts of interest
Climate action does not have much council commitment
Collapse  HEALTH HEALTH
Morning tea attracts 250 people
Aged care facility receives accreditation
New barbecue and dining area opened
Women urged to take advantage of BreastScreen van
Chinese dance treat
Exemplary staff receive awards
New nurse educator starts
Volunteering for 76 years
Collapse  ARTS ARTS
Jordan Richardson named as Archibald finalist
Artisan show planned for Wagstaffe hall
Literary lunch attracts 120
Bush poet speaks at Rotary club
Author talk at Woy Woy library
Collapse  EDUCATION EDUCATION
'Inconsiderate' parents endanger school children
Drama students perform Harry Potter
Request to not visit skate park before school
Ag students attend Beef Week at Wingham
Third in Woy Woy Cup competition
Rugby 7s gala
Nathan wins $50 for remembering pi
Campus contributes to Adopt a Farmer
Woy Woy South to get new roofing
Sensory garden benefits from planting
Peninsula students dominate touch football selection
Collapse  SPORT SPORT
Lions women retain top spot on soccer ladder
Ettalong venue for Senior Sides championships
Anja returns from Spain with silver medal
Fight night raises funds for PCYC programs
Umina in 11th place
Jemma Smith part of medal-winning contingent
Woy Woy's best performance despite defeat
Woy Woy does well in pennant competition
Margaret Smith narrowly defeated in grand final
Former Bunnies player signs with Melbourne Storm
Umina bowling club champion
Donations to children in Zambia
Umina United to celebrate 40th birthday
Young life savers attend Collaroy workshop

It takes a village ...

You know the common phrase "it takes a village to raise a child".

I would like to tell your readers that that sentiment extends throughout life to the elderly.

The village I want to praise is Umina and the person is my 90-year-old widowed father, Jack, who has lived there for the past 43 years.

At first, I wanted to send thanks to the kind person who found my father's lost wallet last Friday outside Aldi and returned it to him complete with all monies and cards intact.

What a wonderful gesture that brightens the heart: to think that honesty and decency still exists!

However, the humanity extended to my father from the "village" Umina doesn't stop with a single act of decency, it is displayed 10-fold each week by members of the community.

I want to share some of the spirit of Umina and thank the people who care enough to be kind.

This is not an obituary as Jack is well alive and kicking (or talking) as many would know him from his friendly wave, greetings and small talk to familiar faces as he rides his scooter up and down West St almost daily.

It is the selfless acts of kindness over and above the friendliness that impresses me.

The Meals on Wheels delivery man who brings a "special" cake for Jack along with his meals weekly.

The friendly man who drops in for an hourly chat weekly and whose wife invites Jack over for lunch. The "unknown" woman who met Jack at the coffee shop and brought around home-made soup that afternoon on her way to her nursing shift.

The wonderful women at the chemist and post office who share a joke, a birthday card, a present, give a hug and even phone Jack if they haven't seen him for a few days.

The coffee shop worker who "slips' him a free biscuit from time to time but remembers how he likes his coffee so that he feels special.

The new coffee shop owner who has only met Jack recently but took the time to carry his basket and help him shop at Woolworths last week.

The friendly and patient staff at the doctor's surgery who share his jokes.

The current postie who stops to share a laugh.

The previous postie who used to bring him eggs from her chooks weekly.

These may all seem quite trite, small gestures but accumulatively they support and care for an individual who is also much loved by his family.

On behalf of Jack's family, I thank the "village" of Umina for raising and caring for our father also.

Maybe it is isn't an extraordinary tale.

My father led an ordinary life, youngest of nine children, too young for the war, worked for the Sydney Morning Herald for 45 years, raised four children, married for nearly 60 years, played competitive sport, coached etc.

He is a likeable "larrikin" (like Bob Hawke), a decent man, and honestly I think he deserves the love and support he gets from his family and his community.





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